Improving Writing with Role Plays Phani Radhakrishnan Diana

Improving Writing with Role Plays Phani Radhakrishnan Diana Lam Management University of Toronto at Scarborough

What is Good Writing? Example Term Paper Task Feature of Writing Identify a Hypothesis Descriptive Define variables Definitional Describe evidence for & against Descriptive hypothesis Explain existence of evidence Argumentative supporting & counter to the hypothesis Generate testable hypotheses Analytical for future research

What improves writing?

2 Methods that can Improve Writing Environmental g=. 75 Presentational g=. 18 How to put knowledge to work by presenting forms, models Show examples of models, forms Facilitate use of information via Activities Lecture Hillocks 1986

Example Environmental Activity that can Improve Writing • Engage in Role play • Answers 4 types of role play questions – Preparation stage – Debriefing stage

Example Group DM Role Play • 6 townspeople discuss environmental permit • Factory worker (FW), Factory owner (FO), Unemployed Resident (UR), Gov’t Rep (GR), Conservationist (C), Small Business Owner (SBO) • If permit not rewritten => continued pollution • roles affected RO, FW, C, GR, SBO • If permit rewritten => unemployment • roles affected FW, FO, UR, GR Troyka & Nudelman, 1975

4 Types of Role Play Questions that can Improve Writing Identify similarities & differences Definitional between your & others’ roles Find & describe evidence supporting your role’s issue Descriptive/ Argumentative To anticipate counter arguments, Argumentative find, describe & evaluate counter evidence Propose best outcome that Analytical addresses needs of all roles

Preliminary Results • Content analyses of answers to role play questions – Sample answers • Correlate scores on role play answers to scores on term papers – Underway

Content Analysis of Answers to Definitional Questions • Identify similarities & differences from all other roles • Describe a situation in which similarities & differences play out

Example Definitional Answer Good Answer Bad Answer Own role Gov’t Rep Factory Worker Other role Factory worker Conservationist Similarity Both would like to see the beach restored. Difference Factory worker is economically dependent on factory while the Gov’t Rep receives funding from many sources Both see what the pollution is doing to the town Not looking for a compromise for the solution --Cannot clearly describe what the difference / similarity is

Example situation in which similarity/difference plays out Good Answer Bad Answer • When the group discusses building the automatic device, s/he will object because of the fear of unemployment and loss of income, while I would support building the device. • At this point, I should suggest ways (such as E. I. and government welfare programs) to address the issue. • I should also try to reinforce the point that pollution is affecting residents’ lives. • Other parties may take the opportunity to propose the different alternative at this point (i. e. not to build the device) When asking for a compromise for the solution --Situation in which similarity / difference will play out is not clear – just rewording the difference

Content analysis of answers to Argumentative Questions • Find & describe factual evidence to support your stance • Explain how the research is relevant to your situation • Based on evidence generated create a list of points you will use during the discussion • What do you think your counter parties would say to defeat your arguments? How can you defend your arguments?

Example Evidence for Issue Good Answer Bad Answer Issue: Environmental Issue: Corporate environmentalism Related factual information: All of the factories in Hong Kong dumped their detergents, toxic chemicals, and water into the territory’s harbor. This has caused serious water pollution in the Hong Kong harbor. Currently the Hong Kong taxpayers must pay for the cost for running a waste treatment plant. Related factual information: Most companies around the world are going green. Parson should follow. Also, getting certificates such as ISO 14001 will be a good promotion

Example Relevance of Evidence Good Answer Bad Answers --Getting taxpayers to pay for the pollutant treatment device is beneficial because I (factory worker) would be able to keep my job and the city will become less polluted. --However, this may not apply because of the difference in population size. --Hong Kong has a large population so the total cost may be able to be shared by more people. Surfside is a small town – i. e. each taxpayer may need to contribute a lot of money, which may not be affordable for ordinary residents --Parson should go green --Does not provide enough details about of the research (e. g. , What is an ISO 14001? How is it beneficial? ) --Relevance was not clearly stated – did not show understanding in how research can be incorporated into arguments --Student is not aware of how the research will NOT apply

Review of Content analysis of answers to Argumentative Questions üFind & describe factual evidence to support your stance üExplain how the research is relevant to your situation • Based on evidence generated create a list of points you will use during the discussion • What do you think your counter parties would say to defeat your arguments? How can you defend your arguments?

Using research to develop a stance • Based on factual evidence found generate a list of points you will use during the discussion

1 st Example of List of Points Good Example Bad Example • Total number of workers employed by factory ~ 450 people (150 + 300). • Most of the taxes that fund the 50 civil servants and politicians are from factory. • Total number of people that will be affected by factory is ~ 500 Large unemployment will result if Parsons leave town.

Anticipating counter-arguments • What do you think your counter parties would say to defeat your arguments? How can you defend your arguments?

Sample Good Argumentation Initial Argument: Parson has bigger negative impact than the environment Counter Argument: Your argument did not factor in the economic impact caused by fewer tourists (e. g. , loss of business). Economy is not entirely based on employment. Inappropriate to argue that factory is more important than tourism solely based on impact on employment Response: The number of unemployed in my argument is an estimate based on the decrease of profit. If profit decrease by 40%, I estimate that employment decreases by 40% as well. In other words, in my argument, employment is a result of business loss – therefore, I did not completely eliminate other factors. I am using employment to illustrate the general economic impact of factory vs. tourism industry

Sample Bad Argumentation Initial Argument: If Parson lays off people, then it will be harder for me (unemployed resident) to find a job because of increased competition Counter Argument: Cost of environment is of utmost importance Response: So is the cost of my life! If I don’t get a job, I can’t feed myself and I will be unable to live adequately. With others being unemployed, the pattern will continue. --Counter argument is not directly targeted to points mentioned in the initial argument Response is a restatement of stance

Usefulness of 4 types of Role Play Questions • Argumentative, Descriptive, definitional, & analytical questions can improve writing • Writing answers ensures preparation & participation • Ensures better substantive outcomes – e. g. , integrative outcomes in decision making and negotiation exercise

Usefulness of Role Plays • Learning application of a substantive theoretical concept/skill • Learning an interpersonal skill

Next Steps • Correlate scores on role play answers to scores on term papers